Vehicle-wheel rim.



J. H. WAGENHORST.

VEHICLE WHEEL RIM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1912.

1,177,461. 1 Patent-ed Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3 wiimc aur Z8";v

L H. WAGENHORST.

VEHICLE WHEEL RIM. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 10. M2.

1,1775461. v Pate11td'Mar.28,l916. 4/ VI FIGE. FIG

STES PATENT E.

mains H. 'wnennnonsr, ornnnon, OHIO, assrenoa, BY MESNE assrenmnnrsftfi TW'O-FIFTHS TO THE B. r. GoonnIoH COMPANY, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y., A of arena- TION OF NEW YORK, ONE-FIFTH TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER GO AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, AND ONE-FIFTH TO THE UNITED STATES ANY, or

TIRE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-WHEEL RIM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Tune 10, 1912. Serial No. 702,857.

nons'r, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Akron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new a rd useful Improvements in Vehicle- Wheel Rims, of which the following is a specifit tion.

- This invention relates to tire-carrying rims for vehicle wheels.

It contemplates certain in'iprovements in the 'manner of removably securing a tireearrying rim upon a wheel, and also certain improvements in the tire-carrying rim.

In certain applications heretofore filed by me I have described and claimed the attach ing of a demountable tire-carrying rim to a vehicle wheel by the use of a plurality of radial studs adapted to force the tire-carrying rim away from the periphery of the wheelat intervals and thus cause the rim to grip the wheel between such studs. In no cordance with my present invention I use studs to force out portionsl of the rim, but I have found that it isimnecessary to dispose the studs systematically throughout the circumference of the wheel as the rim may be supported out of contact with theperiphery of the wheel by a non-adjustable means at one point. studs being used at other points in the circumference of the wheel to cause the rim to seat upon the non-adjustable means referred to and also upon the periphery of the wheel between such means and the adjacent studs. Such non-:uljustable means may also be well adapted act in place of the driving plate commonly used to prevent creeping of the rim. and may also serve as a protection for the valve-stem. Bv passing the valve-stem through the rim adjacent to these means. the valve-stem and its adjacent parts may be balanced with the radial studs at the other points in the circumference of the wheel and a symmetrically weighted structure thus obtained.

The nature of my improvements will more fully appear from the following detailed description' thereof.

In the accom anying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle-wheel with a rim and tire thereomthe rim embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a circumferential section on an enlarged scale through a portion of the wheel felly and rim of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the wheel felly and rim shown in Fig. 1 taken on line IIIIII of that figure; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the felly band showing the depression therein to receive a tool for prying the rim from the wheel; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the tire-carrying rim of F igs. 1, 2 and 3, showing the transverse split therein; Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the rim and wheel felly, the position of the section being indicated by the line VI-VI in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the wheel felly and rim illustrating a modified form of my invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the rim shown in Fig. 7, the plate secured to the wheel felly beneath the rim being shown in dotted lines;'Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of a tire-carrying rim embodying a modified form of my invention, showing the rim at the point where the same is transversely split and illustrating in dotted lines one end of the rim moved laterally to disengage the interlocking means on the ends of the rim; Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the rim shown in Fig. 9, illustrating the same mounted upon the felly of a wheel, the position of the section being indicated by the line XX in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a vehicle wheel having a felly 2 which, if made of wood, is preferably provided with a metallic felly band 3 permanently secured thereon. This band is provided with suitable bearing surfaces upon which the tire-carrying rim is adapted to seat. These bearing surfaces are preferably of different diameters. As shown in the drawings, the felly band 3 has. a raised flange at one side thereof, the outer surface 5 of which forms an annular convex bearing surface. The other side of the rim is bent down as indicated at 6, its outer surface 7 forming a second annular convex bearing surface of less diameter than the convex annular bearing surface 5.

8 is the tire-carrying rim which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a trans- Paten'ted Mar. 28, 1916..

. the wheel. In Fig.1 I have shown the wheel pressious in the rim base, ne of the depressions beingdeeper than is other so as to make the bearing surface 13 of less diameter than the'bearing surface 12. Means are provided for forcing the rim base away from the wheel at intervals so as to draw the bearing surfaces upon the former into close contact with the bearing surfaces upon the latter throughout the greater portion of the eriuher'v of the wheel'and thus secure a firm seating of the rim upon the wheel; For purposes of illustration I have shown such means as comprising radial studs 14 having conicaleuds 15 which are receivedin sockets 16" formed in therim base, the studs having screwthreaded stems 17 which screw through threaded: holes in plates 18. The plates 18 tare secured to the under-surface of the felly in any suitable manner, preferably by means :Sof. rivets 19 passln through the plates,

folly and felly. band. he screw-threaded "stems 17 have squared heads 20 by which the studs may be rotated. Lock-nuts 21 maybe pr0- Vided if desired. I preferably do not arrange these studs symmetrically throughout the entire circumference of the wheel, but provide at least one of the points wherestuds would be located, if the studs were symmetrically" arranged,

non adjustable means for supporting the rim "in the position in which it would be supported by a stud forced out against it. V plied, and. before the adjustable studs are screwed up, will be held slightly out of true by such means, but when the rim is forced out at other points by the studs it Will be brought into a symmetrical position upon provided with three studs located ninety degrees apart, the nonsadjustable means to which I have referred being located at a point diametrically opposite to theintermediate stud'. e

Iii-Figs. 2, 5 and 6 I have shown thenonadjustable means for supporting the rim formed as follows: Therim base of the tirecarrying rim is transversely split at 22, preferably obliquely both to a radius and to the-edges of the rim. Secured to one end of the rim'is a lug 23 having a central open-,-

ing 24 thereth'rough, the lug being riveted to the rimv base as shown in Fig. 2. The lug The 1'111'1 when" 'upon the Wheel.

is provided with a flange -25 projecting from the same immediately beneath the under-surface of the rim base, this flange being adapted to seat upon the surface of .the folly band 3 and thus to maintain the rim base spaced a fixed distance fromthe folly band.

The lug preferably has an extension portion 26 which entersa hole 27 in the felly. .38. is the valve-stem of the tire 29 which passesthrough the hole 24: in the lug and the hole 27 in the telly. Secured to the other endof the rim base is a second lug 30 which is preferably similar in construction to the lug 23, except This lug-has the flange 31 resting upon'the feliy band from the fellyband, and has an extension 32 passingthrough a holeixrthe fellybend felly. 1 The operation of mounting the the Wheel is as follows:

to have atire mounted thereon with the and supporting the rim away i rim upon Supposing therim l that it has no hole therethrough valve-stem 28 passing through the hollow lug 23 and preferably secured thereto by means of a nut 34, the side of the rimprovided with the lugs is first applied to the wheel, the valve-stem being slipped through its hole 2 7 and. thelugs'23 and entering. the hole 27 and the socket 33, respectively. The other side of the rim is then swung into the plane of the wheel." The" placing of a, rim upon a wheel in this manner is commonly referred to as button-holings. It will be seen that the rim is now loosely mounted upon the Wheel, 'i't occupyinga slightly eccentric position thereon as it is lifted away from the periphe-ry of the wheel at one side by the flanges 25 and 31 of the lugs. It will of coursebe understood that the studs 14 are retracted at this time. The studs 14 are now screwed out, the conical ends of the same entering the sockets inthe rim base and accurately centering the rim' The further screwing :out the rim. away from the wheel adjacent to the studs and causes the a of the studs lifts bearing surfaces of the rim-to .bedrawninto close contact with the bearing surfaces of the Wheelbetween adjacent studs and .be-

tween th'elugs 23 and 30 andthe studs on each side thereof. Theflanges 25 and 31 of the logs are made of such thickness that when'the studs are screwed'out with sufii-- cient. force to cause. the: rim to clamp the wheel. tightly, the same distance from thev felly band by such flanges as it is supported away from the fellyband by the studs; The rim is thus mounted concentrically upon the wheel;

The slight; distortiomof the put oftrile circular shape bythe operation of the studs:

is not'suificient; to .be noticeable or to inter- 1 5 -1 the rim will be supported at 'is mounted upon the wheel. Before the rim 1 is mounted upon the wheel the ends of the rim base are held against displacement by the endless tire-retaining flanges 10, the bases of which hook beneath the inwardly turned flanges 11 of the rim base and thus prevent the collapsing of the rim base. The flanges 10, being forced laterally against the flanges 11 by the inflated tire, also prevent lateral displacement of the ends of the rim base. The flanges 10 will be maintained in contact with the flanges 11, even though the tire became deflated, by the clip 35 which holds the beads of the tire pressed against the flanges 10. The opening in the rim for the valve-stem 29 is preferably located near the split in he rim base, as has already been described, F that the clip 35 will be located near the split and thus act in the manner described. The valve-stem should also be near the inwardly projecting lugs on the rim so that the lugs and valve-stem may be button-holed into their respective openings in the wheel. It is also desirable to have the valve-stem near the split in the rim base, as the reinforced part of the inner tube of the fire which surrounds the valve-stem will thus extend over the split in the rim base, the extra strength of the tube at this point preventing injury thereto. Such reinforce is indicated at 36 in Fig. 2. In order to further protect the inner tube'from injury by the edges of the split it the rim base, I preferably secure to the under-surface of one end of the rim base a plate 37. This plate passes between the ends of the rim base as indicated at 38, its extreme end, 39, overlapping the opposite end of the rim base from that to which it is secured. Such end of the rim base preferably has a shallow depression 40 formed therein to receive the end 39 of the plate, so that the tire-seating surface of the,- rim may be flush. The plate 37 need be madeonly of suflicient width to support the portion of the inner tube of the tire eitposed between the toes of the tire casing. A notch t may be formed in one side of the rim base o permit a tool to be inserted between the rim base and one of the endless flanges 10. inserting a tool in this manner the end r i he rim case can be pried away from the flange and orced radially inward and then iaterally. so that it may be grasped by the operator and collapsed,'thus permitting the flanges l0 and the tire to be' taken oil. It is also often desirable to use a tool to pry the tire-carrying rim laterally from the wheel 1n case it is rusted thereon. For this pur-*- pose I preferably form a depression 42 in the edge of the folly band as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. This makes it possible to insert the end of the tool between the telly band and the bearing surface 13 as shown in Fig. 3, by means of which the rim may be pried ofl".

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modifi cation of my invention in which the lugs 23.

and 30 are omitted. In place of these lugs a single lug 43 is provided upon one end of the rim base 44 near the split 45 therein. The lug 43. is preferably formed by depressing the metal of the rim base without thickening the same and has a central opening 46 therethrough for the valve-stem 47 of the tire. 48'is the valve-stem clip which is secured to the inner tube by means of a nut 49, this nut being conveniently received in the depression formed by the making of the lug 43. The valve-stem and clip are preferably secured in place by means of a nut 50 screwing against the under-side .of the lug. The valve-stem is preferably located closeto the split in the rim base, so that the reinforced portion 51: of the inner tube ad'- ja ent to the valve-stem will extend over the split. [The 'felly 'band'52 has secured Y to it a plate 53 of sufficient thickness to support the rim above the telly band, 'just as the flanges 25 and 31 of the lugs 23 and 30 3 support the rim in'the form of my invention previously described. The plate 53 has a hole 54 therein which receives the lug- 43.

The plate and lug thus prevent creeping of the rim uponthe wheel. The lug 43 .is'

preferably slightly tapered, the walls of the V hole 54 being correspondingly tapered, so as to insure a tight fit between the lug and plate. The plate 53 may be securedv to the felly band in any suitable manner for example, by means of rivets 55 and 56, the

rivets 56 being carried through the felly of the wheel and serving also to secure a plate 57 to the under-surface of the felly. Thegf. plate 57 has a threaded hole therein into 1 v which screws the end of the dust cap 58. The dust cap is thus supported entirely in-- I dependently of the valve-stem and need not be removed when the rim and tire are taken off the wheel or replaced. The plate 53 is preferably extended beyond the split in the rim. as shown, and thus supportsthe ends of the rim in accurate alinement.v The split 45 in the rim base is preferably oblique both to a radius and to the edges of the rim, but

the inclination to the edges of the rim is preferably in the opposite direction to thatof the split in the rim, having the lugs at each lside of the split as above described. In-tlle case of the rim having a lug at each side 'of the split, the two ends of the rim base are positively locked against lateral displacement by such lug when the rim is mounted upon the Wheel.

- With the form of my invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, inwhich only one end of the rim base is provided with a lug, it is de sirable to have such end of the rim base overlap so to speak,- the other end of the rim base. Referring to Fig. 8, the side of the rim at the top of this figure is that to-i ward the back of the wheel or the side nearest the body of the vehicle. This side of the wheel is provided with the raised flange 4 which will prevent lateral movement of either endof the rimbase in that direction. The end of the rim base carrying the lug 43 is prevented from lateral movement in the opposite direction by reason of the engagement of such lug withthe hole in the plate 53. Owing to the direction of the split in the rim base; this end of the rim base overlaps the opposite end of the rim base, as described, and thus prevents lateral. movement of the other end. of the rim base toward the front side of the wheel, It will thus be seen that when the rim is mounted upon the wheel both ends of the same are locked against lateral displacement.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the tire-carrying rim 60 has formeda't one side thereof an integral tire-retaining flange 61, the other side of the rim. being provided with a low flange 62 adapted to engage the endless tireretaining flange 10. The iiiinincludihg the integral flange 61, is transversely split at 68, the plane of the split preferably being oblique both to a radius and. to the edges of the rim. For preventing separation of the ends of the rim at the side of thelattcr opposite to that carrying the endless tire-retaining flange, I preferably provide suitablelocking means which. as shown, comprise a plate 64 secured to one end. of the rim, preferably upon the outside of the integral flange 61 thereof. this plate overlapping a portion of the other endof the rim and havinp one or more holes 65 therein which receive pins 66 projecting from the other end of the rim. When the ends of the rim are brought into alinement these pins enter the holes in the locking piece 64 and prevent circumferential separation of the ends of the rim. By moving the end of the rim carrying the locking piece (i-l laterally, however, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the ends of the rim may be disengaged and the rim collapsed sufiiciently to permit the endless flange 10 and the tire to be removed. The rim shown in these figures may be secured to the vehicle wheel in any suitable manner; for example, by the means shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and already fully described. For this purpose the ends of the rim are provided with the lugs 23 and 30. One end of the rim is also preferably pro m'it of such depression. For this reasonthe end 67 of the depression40 is made at right angles to a circumference, so as to clear the corner of the plate 37.1 This is unnecessary in the form ofrim shown in Figs. 1 to 6,as in that form of rim the .end of the rim base in which the depression 40 isformed may be depressed suiiiciently to free the end of the plate 37 before beingforced laterally. Fig; 10 showsa formof felly band adapted to receive the rim-60. In this figure 68 is the felly" band having the downwardly turned edge 69, the outer surface of which is adapted to form. a convex bearing surface to be engaged by the bearing surface of the i I rim ofsmaller diameter. At the other edge the felly band carries a raised flange '70 which engages directly with the und.ersurface of the rim.

Having thus described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, but without desiring to limit myself thereto any further than as specified in certain of the more limited claims hereunto appended, I'claim 1. The combination with a vehicle wheel having a seat on its periphery, of a tire car rying rim adapted tobe removably mounted upon said seat, non-adjustable means, inter-v posed between the periphery of the wheel and fixed to said. rim adapted to space said rim out of contact with said seat, and. adjustable means for forcing said rim out of contact with said seat at another point in the circumference of the wheel to cause said rim to engage the seat on thewheel periphery between said non-adjustable means and. said adjustable means.

2. The combination with avehicle wheel having a seat on its periphery, of a the carrying rim adapted to be removahly mounted upon said seat, a spacing device interposed betweenthe rim and wheel fixed to and adapted to support said rim out of I contact with said seat at one point inits circumference, and adjustable devices for-forcing saidrim out oi contact with said seat at other points in its circumference, said spac ing device and said adjustable devices being symmetrically located about they circulnf'er ence of the wheel.

3. The combination with a vehicle wheel having a seat on its periphery, of a tirecar rying rim adapted to be removablymounted upon said seat, a spacing device inserted bewheel fixed to and. adaptedfto fsu'pport Isaid .tween said rim and the 'peripheiiy of said: i

a device, said stud being adapted to force a neath the under-surface of the rim and 70' portion of said rim out of contact withsaid adapted to rest upon the periphery of the seat. wheel and support portions of the rim adja- 4. The combination with a vehicle wheel, cent thereto out of contact with the seat on of a tire-carrying rim, and means for securthe wheel periphery, said lug having a por- 1o ing said rim upon said wheel comprising a tion extending beyond said flange and re- 75 fixed and non-adjustable device for supportceived in a recess in the wheel periphery, ing said rim upon said wheel at one point, and a plurality of radially adjustable cirin the circumference thereof, said means cumferentially spaced studs carried by the holding said rim eccentric with relation to wheel adapted to force said rim out, of conthe wheel when the rim is applied thereto, tact with the seaton the wheel periphery ar se and adjustable means for forcing said rim circumferentially spaced intervals. into a concentric position upon the wheel 9. The combination with a vehicle wheel and clampin it thereto. having a seat onits periphery, of a tire-car- 5. The combination with a vehicle wheel rying rim adapted to be removably mounthaving a seat on its periphery, of a tire-cared upon said seat, said rim having a lug 85 rying rim adapted to be removably mounted secured thereto provided with a flange exupon said seat, said rim having a projectending beneath the under-surface of the tion on its under-surface adapted to engage rim and adapted to rest upon the periphery the periphery of the wheel and to space said of the wheel and support portions of the rim away from the seat on the wheel at one rim adjacent thereto out of contact with the 96 point in its circumference, and radially adseat on the wheel periphery, said lug being justable studs carried by said wheel at other tubular and adapted to have the valvepoints in its circumference adapted to enstem of the tire passed therethrough and gage the under-surface of said rim and force having a portion extending beyond said the'same away from theseat on the rim adflange, said exten ed portion entering the jacent to such points. hole through the wheel felly formed for the 6. The combination with a vehicle wheel valve-stem, and a plurality of radially adhaving annular-seats of different diameters justable circumferentially spaced studs carat the edges of its periphery, of a tire-carryried by the wheel ada ted to force said rim $5 ing rim havingannular seats of correspondout of contact with t e seat on the wheel ing diameters adapted to engage the seats on periphery at circumferentially spaced interthe wheel periphery, a spacing device intervals. posed between portions of the wheel periph- 10. In a vehicle wheel, in combinatioma cry and the under-surface of the rim befelly, a felly band thereon having a raised so tween said seats and adapted to support the ange at one edge thereof forming an an- 1% portion of said rim adjacent thereto with its nular seat and having at the other edge seats out of contact with the seats on the thereof an annular seat of less diameter a wheel periphery, and means located at anthanthe seat on said things, a tire-carrying other point in the circumference of the wheel rim having annular seats on its under-surto for forcing said rim away from the wheel face adapted to engage the. annular seats periphery and causing the seats on the rim on said felly band, said rim having a proto be drawn into engagement with the seats jection on its under-surface between said anon the wheel periphery between said spacing nular seats'adapted to engage a portion of, device and forcing means. the felly hand between its annular seats and 7 so 7. The combination with a vehicle wheel, to support the adjacent portions of the seats rim out of contact with said seat at one point in its circumference, and a radially adjustable stud carried by the wheel at a point diametrically opposite said spacing having a seat on its ,periphery, of a tire-can rying rim {adapted to be removably mounted upon said seat, said rim having a lug secured thereto provided with a flange extending beneath the under-surface of the rim and carried by the felly having a seat on its periphery, of ai tire-carrying rim adapted to be removably mounted upon said seat, said rim having a lug secured thereto provided with a flange extending beon the rim out of contact with the seats on the felly band, and radially adjustable studs of the wheel and spaced circumferentially from each other and from said projection on the rim, said studs adapt- 1243 ed to'engage the under-surface of the rim and force the rim away from the folly band at intervals.

11. A vehicle wheel coniprisingafixed rim provided with sockets in adapted to receive lugs, a demountable rim adapted to seat upon said periphery and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs engaging saidsockets and spacing said demountable rim from said 18%? adapted to rest upon the periphery of the wheel and support portions of the rim adjacent thereto out of contact withthe seat on the wheel periphery, and a plurality of radially adjustable, circumferentially spaced studs carried by the wheel adapted to force said rim out of contact with the seat on the wheel periphery at circumferentially spaced intervals.

1 8. The combination with a vehicle wheel its' periphery 126 comprising adjustable a demountable rim adapted to seat upon said fixed rim and provided with a plural- ;ity of lugshaving flange members constitutlng bearing surfaces seating about the mouths oi said sockets, and means for securingclamping contact between said-rims circumferentially spaced studs carried by said wheel and adapted to force the demountable rim out of contact with the fixed rim adjacent said studs.

13. The combination With a vehicle Wheel able rim.

having a seat on its periphery of a tire carrying riin adapted to be removably mounted upon said seat, a non-adjustable spacing and lodging device adapted to space andiock the rim upon said seat, and adjustable means for forcing said rim out of contact with said seat at another point in the circumference of the Wheel.

14-. The combinatiornvith a vehiclewheel having a seat on its periphery of a tirecarrying rim adapted to be removably mounted upon said seat, said Wheel having a plural ity of circumferentially spaced sockets there-- in, said rim beingprovided with. a solid lug seating in one of sald sockets, and a lug with a bore therethrough seated in the other of said sockets, said bore being adapted toreceive a valve stem, said lugs spacing said tire-carrying rim away from said Wheel, and

means to cause said demountable rim' to; clamp said fixed rim comprising a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced rotatable studs projecting through said Wheel and contacting with the under-side of said demount- JAMES H! WVAGENHURSTE Witnesses: V

SEWARD DAVIS, EDMUND QUINCY Moses. 

